Dolan or Rose?

[Boyfrom64]

I am looking at Dolan and Rose for my next bike and would welcome any views or thoughts from others on these manufacturers.

I have also considered Canyon but you are not able to modify the equipment of their bikes which is why I am now discounting them from my list of potential manufacturers.

I appreciate that many people will tell me to go to my local lbs and I also appreciate that by buying on line I am taking a risk in that I do not get a chance to try the bike out; that said the Specialized I ride, my chance to try it out was simply riding it around a car park so I do not think I am losing out much there.

My only concern with Dolan is that their Aluminum offering is classed as a winter training bike and so I am looking more at their Carbon bikes and I am not totally sure if Carbon is the frame material I want.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post; all comments gratefully received.

 

[Liam 68]

Hi
I was seriously looking at Rose but C2W scheme wasn't covered (obviously)... In a recent review of the best bikes under 1k (in Cycling Plus) their bike came top followed by a Boardman. What put it top was that for the price it inc complete 105 groupset &very good wheels (for the price).
I am looking at a new ppurchase (when I've saved up) & a Dolan has made the shortlist of three inc a Cube & a Focus...

I wouldn't worry about what they say about aluminium just for winter - you have to have two bikes for that to work...! Just do what you want...

 

[Cyclist33]

my main issue with dolan is the absolute awfulness of their website.

 

[vickster]

If you want a super lightweight alu frame, rose can't be beaten it seems. Unless you go for say a c'dale frame and source all the bits and get it built (that assumes you can buy the alu frames on their own)

Ribble is another option, talking of horrid websites

Or sod any thoughts of budget, and go titanium

Or there's always steel. I sourced an equilibrium frame, in gorgeous copper, and sourced all the parts. I didn't want shimano, so this enabled me to build a bike with sram and all the right sized components. Unlike the stock bike which was wrong in all ways! Cost me somewhere around the rrp for the standard bike, but it was much more fun doing all the shopping and she is far prettier!

 

[totallyfixed]

Paging @oldfatfool, he bought a Rose bike last year I think. Also IMO it's good to be riding a bike that everyone and his dog haven't got.

 

[John the Monkey]

A "winter" bike is no bad thing if you want mudguards and/or a rack on it, or to fit larger tyres.

If you know, more or less, what riding position you want, buying online shouldn't be too much of a problem. If it's a first bike, you might need to monkey around with stem/seatpost a bit to get the fit you want - asking the builder to leave some spacers on the steerer would be a good idea!

 

[vickster]

@totallyfixed The OP has a Specialized so that may not be a concern

 

[Pale Rider]

I don't know one end of a road bike from the other, but can say Rose are good to deal with and the quality of my trekking ebike is top notch.

As regards trying the bike, Rose say you can examine the bike 'as you would in a shop' and then return it without giving a reason if you don't want to.

I reckon you could take it for a very brief ride on a clean surface, although I sized mine on the living room carpet.

 

[totallyfixed]

@totallyfixed The OP has a Specialized so that may not be a concern

TBH thinking about it I am quite happy for nearly everyone else to ride Specialised and Giant .

 

[michaelcycle]

IIRC correctly Rose has UK rep who will let you test out a bike or two you are thinking of buying. I'm pretty sure I had a chat with the dude at a bike show in London when I was one the look out for a bike (don't quote me on this one as I am getting on in years and my memory isn't what it used to be...)

Rose seem like a good company to me.

 

[Hacienda71]

Iirc Dolan, Graham Weigh, Ribble, Surosa and a few others use the same generic alu frame for their "winter/audax/training" frames and just paint and badge them individually. Good dependable frameset IMHO. I have a Ribble and used it as my main bike for a couple of years.

 

[oldfatfool]

Can't reccomend Rose highly enough

 

[Boyfrom64]

@oldfatfool I take it you own a Rose, which model?
What makes you think of them so highly?

 

[Boyfrom64]

@Cyclist33 apart from the Dolan website, do you have any actual experience of the bikes themselves?

 

[Cyclist33]

@Cyclist33 apart from the Dolan website, do you have any actual experience of the bikes themselves?

No.